Monday, 26 November 2018

Following a fire on a Cross Country train at Brockenhurst, all lines have now reopened. Train services running through this station may be cancelled, delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until 16:00 26/11.

What we're doing about it

We have been informed that there was a fire on a Cross Country train in the Brockenhurst area.

Emergency services attended and have dealt with the incident. During this time no trains were able to run through Brockenhurst as the power to the line had to be switched off to allow emergency services access to the railway, resulting in a queue of trains in the area. Power has been restored but there may be residual delays and alteration to services

Replacement buses are available running between Southampton Central and Bournemouth.

For further information or onward travel advice please speak to a member of staff or use a station help point.

Saturday, 24 November 2018

Passing Redbridge, about to cross over to the Test Valley line. Image by Ian Knight.

Three pictures, approaching and passing Romsey.

44871 was completed by the LMS at Crewe in 1945. In July 1968 it was finally reallocated from Bolton to Carnforth, prior to hauling the Fifteen Guinea Special, which was the final curtain for BR steam on 11th August 1968.

Support coach 99035 was BSK 35322 built to Lot 30699 at BR Wolverton in 1962.Withdrawn from BR service in June 1988, becoming support coach for 70000, running as 99035 since July 1992, for a while in the Queen of Scots train, before sale to West Coast in 2008.

Sunday, 18 November 2018

Bright lower sunshine at Eastleigh on a Saturday morning, however no 4O27 from Garston, following no northbound 4M98 on Friday.

66740, 66770, 59003, 70810 & 70816.

66508 4O14 07:20 Lawley Street - Maritime.

66558 0O26 / 0W26 10:50 Hinksey - Maritime.

70005 4O90 05:27 Leeds - Maritime.

66092 4O40 10:44 Morris Cowley - Eastern Docks.

66547 4O29 08:50 Basford Hall - Maritime.

TIPH 93405 is a KFA wagon. It looks a bit tatty, and the wagon number board is not to the typical standard seen in the Touax wagons maintained at Eastleigh. In 2013 it was reported to be stored at Long Marston, but in 2017 it was in a 6Z50 train formation, rather than the more usual Class 4 for liner trains. Is it about to enter the works, or is it in civil engineer's service?

66558 0Z26 10:20 Hinksey - Swindon -Melksham - Westbury - Maritime. A 6O26 Hinksey - Eastleigh was in the timetable, running vi Petersfield, and the light engine was then to route via Fareham to Maritime. This working became the alternative with no load. So wet and dark at this time that I had taken to the protection of the platform shelter.

Wednesday, 7 November 2018

20057 (D8057 delivered in May 1961 to Sheffield Darnall, withdrawn 1994) has had a nomadic retirement, where I have previously seen it at Long Marston and Butterley, and it was at Barrow Hill as well. The engine is currently removed for overhaul and repair, in the adjacent shed, but it it appears that this will be a challenging restoration.

Former Eastleigh allocated 33102. I recall this working with the "Swedish Scrubber" at Salisbury in the early 1990s, for which it was dedicated locomotive, with smoke emerging from the bogies / underframe which did not look encouraging. I don't recall a train consist like that once seen at Grateley. Withdrawn 6th November 1992, and now preserved at the Churnet Valley Railway for 25 years. When seen it was poorly, but was revived by the middle of the day.

6 Roger H Bennett is a Yorkshire Engine 'Janus' (works no. 2748 of 1959), which arrived at the Churnet Valley in 2008.

PAA 4 wheel open sand hopper wagon WBB 30025 (formerly BIS 7954) was part of orders split between Standard Wagon and WH Davis in 1981-83 (this example appears to be from WH Davis). This type of wagon was the last to carry sand from Oakamoor in 1988 when the traffic ceased to go by rail.

Sunday, 4 November 2018

73101 formerly The Royal Alex, new in October 1965 and withdrawn in May 2002.

The Freightliner HTAs seen last week appear to be gone, apart from their bogies. The IIAs from GBRf traffic appear now to belong to Touax, the logos are newly applied. This is 37 70 6791 045-7 built by IRS in Romania in 2008. Returning to traffic for the winter?